Folding machine



May 26, 1931. E. D. RAIDER".A 1,806,706

' FOLDING MACHINE: v

Filed Oct. 1851928 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 if@ l l l 2,7 ze 28 s;- /W//f42 .9

dttornegs May 26,1931. E. D. RADER 1,803,706

FOLDING MACHINE I Filed Oct. .18, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 26, 1931- E.D. RADER y1,806,706

- FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct.. 18, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 A Q BnuentorPatented May 26, 1931 UNITED VSTATES PATENT OFFICE EARL vD. BADER, 0F"BEDFORD, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO DEXTER FOLDER COMPANY, OF NEW YQRIL N.Y., A CORPORATION 0F YORK i FOLDING MACHINE Applcationled lOctober' 18,1928. Serial No. 3173,363.

This invention relates to folding machines, and more particularly tomeans for cleaningithe slots or grooves for perforating devices employedon such machines.

Much difliculty has heretofore been eX- perienced in the useof'perforating devices on paper folding machines, due to packing of the-paper'punchings or shavings in-the slots or grooves for the perforatingdevices` In a folding machine, the slots or grooves for theperforatingdevices are generally formed'in` the folding roller and donot permit the' egress of paper particles, punching or shavings as inother forms of perforating 7 devices. v Packing ofpaperin these groovesresults in excessive wear onv the lperforating devices and requiresfrequent replacements of the same with the .attending increasedoperatingcosts and decreased production ofthe machine. i Y

At the presentVv time, equipment is in use whereby signatures containing'sixty-four or more pages maybe made,v and it has been found that whenperforating these and ,other signatures, the Vpunchings or shavings areforced firmly in the groovev or slotfor the perforator and fill saidslot or groove up with a packing of paper `which is substantially ashard as the material forming the roller in which said slot or groove isgenerally located. The hard, packed material in the slot or groove tendsto push the perforator device therefrom, and as very rigid springs areused in forcingtogether the rollers that carry the perforator and saidVgoove,y iirst the sharp teeth of the perforator and then` the sharpedge of the body of the blade itself ris disintegrated.

`@ne object `of the present'V invention is to provide aicleaning devicethat overcomes the above mentioned disadvantages. Another object of theinventionA is to provide a positively driven cleaning device thatmay'beoperated from the-rollers of the folding mach-ine. Y i YAnotherobject of vtheinvention is to provide a driven cleaning deviceIthat may be adjusted as desired with respect to the-perforator slotorgroove.V .A

Another objectof the invention is to pro vide an improved and eiiicientmounting for the perforator device.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved sectional foldingrollers with perforating devices adjustably and detachably mountedthereon.

It isbecoming the practice in binderies to make partially slit or cutmultiple signatures, thus permitting the bundling and handling of thesignatures in their largest form. These partially severed multiplesignatures are later broken by hand in bunches and placed in the properboxes on the gathering machine, the insetting machine, or distributedfor hand gathering or inserting. VThe production of such signaturessimplifies the problem of packing them onthe folding machine in thatdivisional packing boxes are not required and the resulting difficultiesincident to the use of such boXes'is eliminated. l

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedmechanism for, makingfthese partially severed, multiple signatures.

y Another object of the invention is to provide mechanism whereby apartially severed multiple signature may, ifv desired, be completelysevered at one pointfin the length thereof. Y

Y Other objects of the invention willappear as the followingdescriptionthereof proceeds.

In order to more clearly understand the invention reference may be hadto the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of theinventive ideaand where- 1n Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view showingpart of a paper folding machine equipped with devices embodyingthepresent invention; i

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation, partly in section, of themechanism shown in Fig. l. Fig.- 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectionalview on the line 3-3 of Fig, 2;

' -Fig 4 is a detail perspective view of ,da

perforator and associated partsl separated for purposes of clearerillustration;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective viewof mechanism for cutting a multiplesignaturev into two parts;

Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the cleaning device with theparts thereof separated for purposes of clearer illustration;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged detail perspective view of a folded, partiallysevered multiple signature; and

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail perspective view of an unfolded partiallysevered multiple signature similar to that shown in Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designatelike parts throughout the several views, 5 indicates a sheet which isfed from a support (i into the bite of a pair of knurled feed rollers 7and 8 fixed on shafts 7 and 8 respectively that are journaled insuitable bearings on the side frames 9, 10 of a folding machine (Figs. 1to 3, inclusive). Journaled in suitable bearings on the side frame 10 ofsaid machine is a shaft 11 which is driven from any suitable source ofpower (not shown) and carries a bevel gear 12. The bevel gear 12 mesheswith a similar gear 13 (Fig. 1) that is fixed on the feed roller shaft 8at one end thereof. Fixed on the opposite end of the shaft 8 is a spurgear 14e that meshes with a similar gear 15 which is fixed on the feedroller shaft 7. The shaft 11, together with the above described gearing,serves to drive the feed rollers 7 and 8 in the directions indicated bythe arrows (Fig. 2) so that the sheet 5 is fed into the mouth of a grid16 and delivered downwardlTT therein until the leading edge of saidsheet engages a stop 17 adj ustably secured to and extendingtransversely of said grid. The sheet 5 when fed into the grid may beunfolded, or said sheet may have had previously imparted thereto one ormore folds as desired. In the present case, it is assumed that the sheet5 will have been folded a suiiicient number of times so that whenfinally folded as hereinafter described, a heavy, multiple signature maybe formed from said sheet.

The grid 16 is supported in any suitable manner on the side frames 9, 10of the machine, and when the leading edge of the sheet 5 strikes thestop 17 of said grid, the continuous feeding action of the rollers 7 and8 on said sheet causes it to buckle adjacent the bite of the roller 7and a roller 18 which is fixed on a shaft 19 removably journaled insuitable bearings on the side. frames 9, 10 of the folding machine. Theroller 18 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 2) bya gear 20 which is fixed on the shaft 19 and meshes with the gear 15that is fixed on the shaft 7 iVhen the sheet 5 is buckled as aforesaid,said sheet is folded and fed upwardly by the rollers 7 and 18 and, ifdesired, into a grid 21 that has adjustably secured thereto andextending transversely thereof a stop 22 against which the folded edgeof the sheet strikes. The grid 21 is supported in any suitable manner onthe side frames 9, 10 of the machine and when said folded edge strikesthe stop 22, the continued feeding action of the rollers 7 and 18 causesthe sheet to buckle adjacent the bite of the roller 18 and a roller 23.This roller 23 is fixed on a. shaft 2li extending transversely of themachine and removably journaled in suitable bearings of the side frames9, 10 thereof.

The roller 23 is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow (Fig. 2)by a gear 25 which is fixed on the shaft 24 and meshes with the gear 2Othat is fixed on the shaft 19. iVhen the sheet is buckled adjacent thebite of the rollers 18 and 23, said rollers again fold the sheet andfeed it forwardly onto conveyor tapes 27 that deliver the folded sheetfrom the machine or to a suitable packing mechanism (not shown)associated therewith. The tapes 27 are driven in any desired manner andpass over rollers 28 ournaled in suitable bearings on the rear end of atable 29 over which said tapes also pass.

rlhe folding rollers 18 and 23 are made in sections 30 and 31,respectively, and said sections are preferably knurled as clearly shownin Figs. d and 5 of the drawings. The roller sections 30 are removablysecured on the shaft 19 by machine screws 32 that 'extend throughsuitable openings in said sections and engage in a groove 33 extendinglongitudinally of said shaft. The ends of the sectional roller 18 arepreferably formed by collars 34 having openings therein for machinescrews 35 that engage in the groove 33 and removably secure said collarson the shaft 19. The roller sections 31 are removably secured on theshaft 24- by machine -screws 36 that extend through suitable openings insaid sections and engage in a groove 37 extending longitudinally of saidshaft 24;. rfhe ends of the sectional roller 23 are preferably formed bycollars 38 having suitable openings for machine screws 39 that engage inthe groove 37 and removably hold the collars in position on the shaftCertain of the roller sections 31 are made in two alined parts 31, 31threaded together at 10, and removably clamped between said parts areserrated perforators l1 that project in grooves 42 formed in certain ofthe roller sections 30.

When the folded sheet is fed between the rollers 18 and 23, the serratedperforators 41 act to partially sever the sheet into the component partsof a multiple signature such as shown, for example, in Figs. 7 and 8 ofthe drawings. As above pointed out, multiple signatures thus formed arelater broken by hand in bunches and placed in the proper boxes on thegathering machine. In some cases it may be desirable to completely severthe multiple signature into a plurality of parts, each including aplurality of partially connected individual signatures. In accordancewith .the .present invention, means are provided for this purposecompri-sing ,one or more pairs of cutters 43 and 44 mounted incooperative relation on the rollers 18 and 23 respectively between, andin spaced relation with, a pairv of the perforators 41 and the adjacentperforator slots or grooves 42. The cutter 43 is secured, as by machinescrews 45, on one end of va `collar 46 mounted .on the shaft 19 andremovably Vsecured thereto by a machine screw 47 that passes through asuitable opening in said collar and engages in the groove 33. The cutter44 is secured, as by machine screws 48, on `one end of a collar 49 whichis mounted .on the shaft 24 and removably secured thereto by a machinescrew 50 which lpasses through a lsuitable opening in said collar .andengages in thegroove 37. ln the event cutters such as above describedare used, .collars 51 and 52 are preferably secured on the shafts 19 and24 respectively to provide suliicient clearance'for said cutters and tohold the roller sections at the left thereof (Fig. 3) in proper position.on said shaft. The collar 51 is removably'secured on the shaft 19 by amachine screw 53 that passes through a suitable .opening in ksaid collarand engages in the groove 33 of said shaft. The collar 52 is removablysecured .on the shaft 24 by a machine screw 54 that passes through asuitable opening in said collar and .engages in the groove 37 of saidshaft.

The number-of twofplart perforator carry.- ing roller sections 31 andgrooved roller sections 30 maybe varied as ydesired in accordance withthe desired number of parts ,of .the multiple signature. Thev perforatorcarrying roller sections and the grooved roller secr tions, as well asthe cutters, are preferably spaced .equal distances Vapart by theremain.- ing roller sections sand collars that make up the knurledfolding rollers 18 and 23. For this purpose, the roller sections 30and31 have the same linear dimensions respectively, The .collars alsohave the same linear dimensions with ,the 4exception of the collar 49that is somewhat longer than ,the collar 46 ,to in-V sure propercooperative relationbetvveen the cutters 43 and" 44. The .rollersections ,31 could, on .the other hand, all be provided with perforators41, in which case all ,of the roller sections() would be provided withgrooves 42 for said perforators. i

In accordance with the present invention improved means Vare providedfor cleaning the perforator slots'or grooves 42, said means preferablybeing .operated and construct-.ed as follows. lThe gear`20 that is xedvon the shaft 19 meshes withan idler gear 55 journaled on a stub shaft56 extending inwardly from Vand secured to 'the side frame 9 ,of themachine (Figs. 1 and 3). The idler gear 55 in turn meshes with a gear 57fixed on oneextremity of a shaft v`58 extending transversely of themachine ,and Jo-urnaled in suitable .bearings on arms. The arms 5;,9 aresecured, as by set screws 60, on a roel: shaft 61 extending in parallelrelation with the shaft `58 and also journaled in suitable bearings onthe .side frames 9, 10.01 the machine. The shaft 58 is continuouslydriven by the gears 20, and 57 and said shaft has secured thereto atintervals along the same a plurality of rotary driven serrated `cleaningelements 62 the teeth of which project into the grooves 42 and preventpaper punchings or shavings produced by the perforators 41 fromcollecting and packing in said grooves. The drive for the serratedcleaning elements Io2 is such that said `elements and the roller 18 4aredriven in opposite directions respectively,

thus further insuring against the collection and packing `of paperpunchlngs 4.or shavings in the grooves 42 and thereby preventing ei;-cessive wear on the perforators 41.

The serrated cleaning elements .62 are removably secured to ,andadjustable along the shaft 58 and for this purpose each of said elementsmay be clamped between .the members ,of a two-part collar 63,63 having asuitable opening for a machine screw 64 that engages in a groove V65extending longitudinally `of the shaft58, the machine screw 64 thusacting to secure the collar 63, 63 and the .cleaner .62 onsaid shaft and.providing for adjustment of said collar and said cleaning yelementalong said shaft in accordance with adjustmentsof the adjacent groovedroller section 30 and perforator carrying section 31 along the shafts19- and 24 respectively. The parts ,of the collars-63, -63 Aarepreferably threaded together as at 266 so that the cleaning elements Y62may be Vclamped between said parts and removed therefrom .as desired.

In accordance with the present invention,

Y the serrated cleaning elements 62 may be adjusted to .operative yandinoperative positions with respect to the roller 18 and the grooves 42therein, For this purpose, the roel; shaft 61 preferably has secured .onone end thereof an arm V67 (Figs. 1 and 46) that is provided with lanarcuate-shaped slot 68 and an operating handle 69. Extending through theslot 68 is a machine screw() having threaded engagement in a suitableopening formed in .the side frame 9. This screw 7.0 is provided with alrnurled head 71 which normall clamps the arm `67 against the machineframe .9 so that the .cleaning elements 62 are held rigidly in operativeposition `during their normal operation. When it is desired to ade justvthe serrated .cleaning elements l62 .to inoperative positions, thescrew 7.0 is unclamped `and removed by turning the knurled head 71 inthe proper direction, whereupon .the handle'69'may be operated .to rock.the shaft v61 and move the cleaning elements 62 to inoperativepositions.

The perforators .41 may, if desired, be replaced by slitters thatcompletely sever the sheet instead of perforating or partially severingthe same. In this case, the cleaning means of the present inventionoperates equally as well as in the first case, to clean the slots orgrooves 42 and prevent the packing of paper therein. The expressionperforator7 employed in the present description and in the claimsappended thereto, is therefore to be construed broadly enough to includedevice that completely severs the sheet as well as one that perforatesor partially severs the sheet.

From the foregoing it will appear thatl the present invention not onlyinsures againstpaclring of the perforator slots or grooves with theattending excessive wear on the perforators, but also enables relativelythick multiple signatures to be produced which may. if desired, besevered into part-s each including a plurality of partially severedindividual signatures. It will further appear that the cleaning deviceof the present invention enables said relatively thick multiplesignatures to be produced economically and at high speed withoutfrequent stopping` of the machine for repairs to or replacement of theperforating devices. j

The cleaning and perforating devices of the present invention areapplicable not only to the particular type of folding mechanism hereinillustrated and described, but also to any type of folding mechanismwith which it is desired to associate said devices, and at any pointwhere the problem of cleaning perforator grooves arises. Accordingly,while one embodiment of the inventive idea has been particularlydescribed and illustrated herein. the present invention is not limitedto such embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appendedclaims.

YVhat is claimed is 1. In a folding machine, a perforating device, amember having a groove for said perforating device, and a rotary drivenelement for cleaning said groove.

2. In a folding machine, a perforating device, a member having a groovefor said perforating device, a rotary serrated element for cleaning saidgroove, and means for driving said rotary serrated cleaning element.

3. In a folding machine, a folding roller having an annular groove, aperforating device disposed opposite the groove of said folding roller,and a rotary driven element for cleaning said groove.

1l. In a folding machine, folding means including a folding rollerhaving a groove eX- tending circnmferentially thereof, a perforatingdevice disposed opposite the groove of said folding roller, a rotaryelement for cleaning said groove, and means for driving the groovedfolding roller and said rotary cleaning element in opposite directions.

5. In a folding machine, folding means including a driven foldingroller, a perforator carried thereby, a second folding roller having anannular groove for said perforator, a rotary device for cleaning saidgroove, means for driving the grooved folding roller in one directionfrom the first named folding roller, and means for driving the rotarycleaning device in the opposite direction from said grooved foldingroller.

6. In a folding machine, folding means including a driven foldingroller, a perforater fixed on said roller to rotate therewith, a secondfolding roller having an annular groove for said perforator, a rotaryelement for cleaning said groove, and means connect ed with said drivenfolding roller for dri ving the grooved folding roller and said cleaningelement in opposite directions.

7. In a folding machine, a grooved member, a perforator projecting intothe groove of said member, and a rotary driven element for cleaning saidgroove and projecting there in at one side of said perforator.

8. In a folding machine, folding means in cluding a driven foldingroller, a serrated perforator fixed on said roller to rotate there with,a second driven folding roller provided with an annular groove intowhich said serrated perforator projects, and a rotary driven serratedelement for cleaning said groove and projecting therein at one side ofthe serrated perforator.

9. In a folding machine, a perforator, a member having a groove disposedopposite said perforator, an adjustably mounted rotary driven elementfor cleaning said groove, and means for adjusting said element withrespect to said member and the groove therein.

l0. In a folding machine, a perforator, a member having a groove forsaid perforator, a rockshaft, a driven element carried thereby forcleaning said groove, means for rocking said shaft to adjust the drivencleaning element with respect to said member and the groove therein, andmeans for locking the rockshaft and the driven cleaning element invarious positions of adjustment.

l1. In a folding machine, a driven element made in two alined partsdetachably con nected together', a perforator clamped between said partsto rotate therewith, a driven element having a groove for saidperforator, and means adjacent the last named driven element forcleaning the groove therein.

12. In a folding machine, a driven element made in two alined partsscrewed together. a perforator removably clamped between said parts torotate therewith, a driven element having a groove for said perforatorand into which the same projects, and a cleaning element projecting insaid groove and adapted to clean the same.

13. In a folding machine, a driven member including sections each madein two alined detachably connected parts, perforators a all clampedbetween the parts of said sections and rotatable therewith, va seconddriven member including sections having annular grooves disposedopposite said perforators, and devices adjacent said grooves forcleaning the same.

14. In a folding machine, a driven roller vhaving a cutter thereon, oneor more perforgrooves for said perforators, and means for cleaning saidgrooves.

16. In a foldingmachine, folding and cutting means including a pairoffolding rollers having opposed cutters thereon, one of said rollersbeing provided at opposite sides of the cutter thereon with annulargrooves spaced from eachother and from said cutter, perforators fixed onthe other roller opposite said grooves, and devices for cleaning theVgrooves.

17. The combination with a loop folding machine including a grid and apair of folding rollers arranged in cooperative relation therewith, of aperforator mounted on one of said rollers opposite an annular groove inthe other roller, and a rotary driven element for cleaning said groove.

18. The combinaton with a folding machine for producing a multiplesignature, of means for completely separating'the multiple signature atone or more points, and means for partially separating said multiplesignature at other points to produce one or more groups of partiallyattached signatures.

19. The combination with a folding machine for producing a multiplesignature, of a cutter for completely separating the multiple signatureat a point between the ends thereof, and devices for perforating thecompletely separated parts of said multiple sig-- nature to' producegroups of partially attached individual signatures. Y

20. rIhe combination with aloop foldingV machine including a grid androllers for producing a multiple signature, of a cutter on one of saidrollers for completely separating the multiple signature at a pointbetween the ends thereof, and perforating devices'on one of said rollersadapted to partially sever the completely separatedl parts of saidmultiple signatures and thereby produce groups of partially attachedindividual signatures.

I'serrated blade for partially separating a sheet, another member havinga groove in which said serrated blade operates, and a rotary device forcleaning said groove.

Q3. In combination, a member carrying a blade for partially severing asheet, another member having a groove in which said blade operates, anda rotary device for cleaning said groove.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specication.

Y EARL D. BADER.

21. In combination, a member' carrying a perforator blade, anothermember having a groove in which said blade operates, and a rotarycleaning deviceV for said groove.

22. In combination, a member carrying a

